Living Faith UMC Messenger – April 2020

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A Message from Pastor Bob

Today, we all are dealing with an unprecedented situation with coronavirus that the WHO has now declared as a pandemic. I recently spoke with Faith Johnson over the phone, who was a nurse for her career. She said, “In all my life, I have never seen anything like this. This is so strange.” Since none of us in the US has dealt with this kind of deadly disease, it is difficult to believe that this is actually happening to us. Just a few weeks ago, some parents were protesting the decision of the state that canceled all winter sports games, arguing that they wanted their children to play. A week ago, college students crowded Florida beaches to enjoy their spring break. I wonder if our society is still in the stage of “denial” as the news is too overwhelming to accept it as true. Compared with other communities, the Quiet Corner seemed less affected by the virus until two confirmed cases were reported last week. While people grow anxious about the safety of their family and friends, many of them are concerned about their financial situation; they are furloughed or laid off from their works. The stock market has been plunging into chaos. Many young parents are now responsible for tutoring their children with online studies and homework while trying to help them understand that our world is not safe. The consumption of alcohol and substance abuse is growing as people are quarantined in their homes. Some people who are in an abusive relationship are more vulnerable as they are captivated in situations of domestic violence. While the world is raging in fear, frustration, and pain, there are three points that I want to reflect with you. First, we often learn what it means to be grateful to God through our challenge and turmoil. Someone told me this past week that she did not realize what a blessing it was to be at the church on Sunday and worship with the congregation. We often take it for granted, waking up in the morning, eating delicious food, going to work, taking a vacation, buying what we want, and hanging out with friends. However, this ordeal might make us grateful to God as God is the source of our lives and blessings who guide every step of our path. Therefore, Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) Secondly, we should be grateful to those who often go unacknowledged in their sacrificial works. As Sungha and I spend all day long with Daniel, we now give thanks to God for his school teachers and who carefully plan the curriculum and bear with him. We give thanks to the cafeteria staff who feed him breakfast and lunch. An older woman saw a young man in CVS who was moving a cart full of toilet papers, hand sanitizers, and soaps. She became outrageous and called him a selfish person who did not care about the elderly, moms, and others who need them. After a while listening to her, he finally said, “Are you done? I really need to get back to restocking the shelves now.” How often have we given thanks for the work of under-acknowledged in our society? Finally, a crisis like this tests who we are as God’s people commissioned to proclaim the message of radical hope in God. While it is easy to give ourselves to scapegoat, anger, or vulnerability, we as followers of Christ are to pray more fervently, deepen our relationship with God through reading the scripture, and find a way to serve our neighbors. As I just had the Connectional Table on March 26, I gave thanks to God for all our leaders in the church who are not vulnerable or anxious but find hope in God who encourages us and gives us the vision through the Holy Spirit. In the middle of tribulations, we never forget who we are. We are God’s people who live out love, forgiveness, and resurrection of Christ in the world that groans in sin, pain, and brokenness. Let us continue to pray for our world while we ask our God to protect our families, our church, and our community in God’s mercy and love.

-- Pastor Bob

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STAFF Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Bob (Song Bok) Jon Office Manager/Editor: Bev Shaw Treasurer: Ann Kathi Peterson Lay Leader: Lorna Wade Music Director: Svetlana Morse SPRC Chair: Craig Jones Trustee Chair: Doug Taylor Finance Chair: Shawn Johnston Telephone: 860.928.9705

Email: livingfaith53.umc@gmail.com Website: www.livingfaithumc.net

April 3 Patrick Mills

April 5 Clayton Lehmann

April 6 Melinda Rukstela

Claire Wade

April 7 Faith Deojay Dyer

April 10 Doug & Cathy Taylor

April 12 Mary Ann Fodor

April 13 Jim & Pat Harvey

April 21 Mike Gehrig

April 23 Nathaniel Sudol

April 25 Reed Hopkins

April 28 Katie Morin

Nick Wade

April 29 Bev Bostwick

Not many April Birthdays & Anniversaries. Did we miss yours? How about letting us know if you

haven’t seen your birthday on our list.

Things to Remember Worship Support Team

Hopefully we will resume our worship in May. If, by some miracle we are able to come

together as a congregation to worship in our sanctuary, I will send you reminders. Thanks for all you do to help our worship service run smoothly. And…as Pastor Bob mentioned, if

you are interested in reading scripture or sharing a children’s story via video, please let

Bev or Pastor Bob know.

A MESSAGE TO REMEMBER Grace is when God gives us good things that we don’t deserve. Mercy is when He spares us from bad things we deserve Blessings are when He is generous with both. Truly, we can never run out of reasons to thank Him.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!

Contributor unknown

Let you faith be

BIGGER than your

fear!

WASH YOUR HANDS!!!

I have a handwashing song. It's the refrain for "Praise the Lord". It takes 22 seconds and you get to praise the Lord at the same time. It's a win-win.

--Blessings Monica

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord let the people rejoice// Oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give Him the glory // Great things He has done!

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FROM JEN FOSTER

LIVING FAITH UMC

Scholarship Criteria

1. The Trustee Scholarship Sub-committee has revised the criteria for application to several scholarships offered by our church. Your high school senior may qualify. Please read on….

2. *Must be a member of Living Faith UMC or a direct descendent (child, grandchild)

3. *Graduating high school senior continuing on to an accredited institution of higher education (this can include technical college)

4. *GPA of 3.0 or higher over the 4 year high school period

5. *Must have performed at least 25 hours of community service in the past 2 years (application will ask that this be detailed)

6. *Essay to accompany application with a choice of 1 of the following topics:

● Describe a mentor in your life and how that person made a difference for you

● Describe how giving back to the community has affected your life.

Applications available at Living Faith United Methodist Church office.

Application deadline: May 18, 2020 -- $500 is available for this scholarship.

~~~~~~~~~~

LFUMC Scholastic Achievement Scholarship.

Criteria: An average of 92% or better in all subjects cumulative GPA You or your parents must be a member of the LFUMC Amount awarded this year is $300

Please contact the church office for an application.

ONE OF OUR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS CHIMES IN…. I am well. Nothing has changed for me…just NO VISITORS. My caretakers still take great care of me here at Matulaitis. Some are wearing masks. They are taking my temperature twice daily. Still great meals. One of our social directors came to visit today. My three year anniversary is coming up on March 31st. She asked me some form questions: do I think of leaving; am I depressed, lonely; how is my relationship with the Lord? People care for me. I gave her my honest feeling…I am blessed! God Is Love!

-- Kay (Piciarelli-Small)

(isn’t she just the greatest!)

The Great Gift of Easter is

HOPE!

--Basil Hume

We had our first day of virtual learning today and it went well. The girls really want to go to school. Seeing how much George enjoyed Sunday’s service, I think we need a “bring your pet to church” day!!! Love & Hugs, Be Safe (EVERYONE), Jennifer

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A GOOD ONE FROM OUR FRIEND, RACHAEL JOHNSTON….

So here is a funny quarantine story:

I have closed my office to the public and have asked all my staff to work remotely (that

includes me). Shawn has been retired for 18 months and has created his own little routine at home (which includes a LOT of reading I might add). Suddenly, here I am home with

him and I have got a list of chores lined up … from rearranging furniture to organizing the

garage to washing floors and the oh so dreaded one - get rid of all the junk on his very cluttered desk. It’s only Day 2 and he can’t wait until I re-open my office. I am

hoping by April we won’t be in divorce court!! Hahaha

--submitted by Eric Mauer (who might be experiencing some homeschooling situations of his own!)

A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON Being involved with managing the Putnam Cemetery Association I’ve had the opportunity to learn about many of the founders of Putnam and subsequently the origins of the local Methodist Church. Considering the current development of the Cargill Mill complex I thought the following might interest some of our current members. (Source: CT Genealogy) In 1760 the original mill complex adjacent to what is now known as Cargill Falls was owned by Captain Benjamin Cargill. This was part of Pomfret at the time. It was widely known as a crossing place over the river, fishery and mill site but it had very few residents and fewer schools and religious privileges. Its scattered families attended church and school in whatever town they were located. During the revolutionary war a strong Baptist element developed as a result the efforts of President Manning of Brown University and one of the rooms in the old mill was used for a Baptist meeting room. Methodism met with equal favor and as early as 1792, a noted Methodist itinerant, John Allen was allowed to hold a religious meeting in Cargill’s press room. A number of young women professed conversion and a class was formed. They were later joined by young men- Elijah Bugbee, William Gary and Noah Perrin. One of our oldest endowment funds was made in the name of Noah Perrin. Pomfret was eventually included in the New London circuit and was made a regular preaching station. It was said that wonderful meetings were held at the Perrin house and Cargill’s meeting room. “The Methodist singing and the fervent exhortations and prayers carried everything before them. In 1795 the Pomfret circuit was formed, with 169 professed Methodists. Though meeting much opposition from the established churches upon the hill tops, the Methodists continued to gain ground in the valley and became an element of much power.” Putnam was eventually incorporated as a town in May of 1855, made up of parts of Pomfret, Killingly, Thompson and Woodstock.

Many things have happened since that time but how interesting to think of how it was back in the day as you drive across the Cargill bridge and admire the current renovations of the old mill complex.

--Submitted by Jim Shaw

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TRUSTEES GET IT DONE!!!

We are all in for a nice treat when we return from our self-isolations / quarantines! The Trustees have had the Fellowship Hall freshened up, along with the church kitchen and downstairs entryway and the downstairs restroom -- with a new coat of paint! It’s fresh, it’s bright and it’s very clean! Thanks to our friend Robert Basilicato, painter extraordinaire and his helper, Tyler. Now, let’s all do our best to keep it clean and neat to welcome all our special visitors every day of the week. Thank you, Trustees, Rob and Tyler. (photos by Doug Taylor)

CAN I HEAR A COLLECTIVE

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While we cannot gather physically at the church, we still continue to give thanks to God who protects and guides our way in this challenging time. If you wish to give to the church, we encourage you to utilize the online giving option. If you go to our church website livingfaithumc.net, you can go to giving and will see online giving. Or just copy and paste the link below.

https://livingfaithumc.net/online-giving/

Tithe.ly is one of the most trusted service to help church with the option of online giving. The service charges 2.9%+30 cents per Debit/Credit card transaction and 1%+30 cents per ACH/Bank Account. If you feel more comfortable with sending checks to the church, please continue to do so.

We understand that some of us are financially challenged as many experience changes in their works today. If you are concerned about your financial situation, do not feel burdened not being able to give to your church. You are our family in God. We are here to support you and pray that we all could overcome this global turmoil together. If you need to speak with Pastor Bob regarding any financial need or other items, please call him at 508-685-6291 or email at revbobjon@gmail.com

Hymn Singing & Prayer Wednesday, April 1st

10:00 am

Although we are quarantining ourselves in this challenging time, we are not separate from the love of God and love for one another.

We invite you to join for online hymn singing with Pastor Bob. It will be wonderful to see faces, join in singing, and pray for one another. Please use your smartphone, tablet to download Zoom app. If you have a computer, go to zoom.us. The meeting ID is 346-819-866, and the password is 315607. For those who can only call in, you can call 1- 929-205-6099 and enter

the meeting ID 346-819-866.

NEW MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make its way through the world, many medical facilities are not able to acquire the personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to keep the medical staff and patients safe. There are not enough N95 respirator face masks currently available, and the predictions are that with the increasing number of people getting sick, there is no end to the respirator mask shortage in sight.

In order to fill the shortage in available masks, the Center for Disease Control has approved cloth face masks to use instead of the N95 respirator mask as well as cloth face masks that are designed to fit tightly over an N95 respirator mask, extend its useful life. Day Kimball Hospital and Matulaitis Nursing Home have requested a supply of cloth face masks, and we will be making these masks for both facilities as well as any other medical facility that requests them. Details of how you can participate in this vital ministry will be coming to you shortly. If you are looking for a way to make a difference in these difficult times, please consider being part of this new ministry as we continue to find new ways to live out our discipleship and serve the community. – submitted by Louise D.

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FROM THE SANCHEZ CLAN….

I figured I would share pics of the kids and just say that in all of this, I can feel all of you; all of my church family completely surrounding us... all of us. I am so thankful to have all of you in my life and am so beyond thankful for the love that each and everyone one of you shower over all of us.

the houses on Grove Street were where all of the church goers lived. It was just a silly childhood notion, that always stuck with me; I was from a different town and all of the grown ups were so classy and such guides for me, the beautiful homes on Grove just “fit”. Today, I have Bev and Jim next door, Sue and Andrew down the street, then the auto extensions to Kathi and Robyn, then seeing Holly’s car next door, Lorna’s car, Kerensa and Merry basically right behind us through the woods... the list goes on and on....My church family is ALWAYS around me, I am surrounded by them, all the time and I find myself thinking, is there honestly a better place to be? I don’t think so. Stay safe and healthy and please call us if there is anything we can do for any of you. ...

Today, Kerensa dropped this off for us. Some of it is scattered now, but she had plants for everyone and LOTS more cupcakes that have been eaten. And it just reminded me of something I have been wanting to share…When I started going to this church – when I became 13 (granted, I came when I was little but then didn’t – and it really BECAME a part of me when I was a

Today, Kerensa dropped this off for us. Some of it is scattered now. She had plants for all of us and LOTS more cupcakes that have been eaten. And it just reminded me of something I have been wanting to share…When I was going to this church – when I was 13 (granted I came here when I was little but then didn’t) and it really BECAME a part of me when I was a teen…Anyway, I had this weird notion that all of

Bella & Mateo playing Nico making something Olivia being Olivia! Basketball yummy & chocolatey